Georgia, a cat owned by Becky Alfrey, likes to look down on 'silly' dogs playing

I once had a cat called Bones. My wife named him that and I could never undestand why, since Bones generally was better fed than me.

I like cats — even though my grandmother’s Siamese loved to ambush me with stinging nips to the hand — but I’ve always been more of a dog person.

My parents told me that when I was a baby I was virtually raised by a “Heinz 57 blend” dog named Fritz. They’d put me in a stoller in front of our apartment and Fritz would guard me from the local street toughs.

Anyway, I think Bones knew I was a dog guy and didn’t like it a bit. So he started relieving himself into a floor vent in our bedroom. Everything was peachy until the heat clicked on and filled the room with the most acrid odor.

Somewhere in the dark, Bones must have been grinning.
All this came to mind the other day after I read a USA Today story about cat people. They wanted equal time after the newspaper ran a story about dog people.

First of all, we need to understand that the argument is a bit lopsided. According to the newspaper, there are 16 million more pet cats than dogs in America. A third of all households have felines.

The question is, why? So I went to some cat people for answers.

Becky Alfrey, who works at a downtown Denver law firm, says she’s always been a cat lover.

“I grew up on a farm in Iowa and we always had lots of cats,” Alfrey said. “And that meant we always had lots of kittens! When it was bitter cold out I would always have a couple of kitties stuffed in my coat to keep them warm.”

Alfrey and her one-year-old cat Georgia (after Georgia O’Keeffe) live in a highrise.

“Georgia loves to sit in the window and look down from the 13th floor on the dogs running around in our ‘bark park’ (A silly sort of thing that a cat would never think of doing!),” Alfrey said.

“I’ve always preferred cats to dogs. They are more compact, quiet and self-sufficient. Cats can be left for a couple of days and they are okay as long as you leave some food out and the toilet lid up.”

Good enough. But can a cat fetch like my Labrador retriever?

Sure, says Gary Olson, a retired journalist living in Denver with his tabby.

“Cats are more doglike than many people understand,” Olson says. “Mine fetches items that are thrown and comes when I whistle.”

But what about the joy of getting a dog’s sloppy wet kisses?

“While dogs are overtly and obviously more affectionate, cats cannot be dismissed as aloof and dispassionate,” Olson says. “They are loyal to their owners and show their affection in low-key ways . . . especially when they sense their owners are upset or troubled.”

Cathleen Johnson, a retired teacher in Littleton who likes to travel, stresses the practical side of having a cat.

“I like dogs better, but they need too much attention,” Johnson said, “You can’t travel and have a dog unless you have a sitter. Cats generally are less trouble and can be kept inside.”

Nurse Nancy, the comic alter-ego of Amy Angelilli, the executive directer of the Rocky Mountain Alley Cat Alliance and a person who knows from cats, said she loves both cats and dogs, but thinks cats are great pets for her friends on the go.

“Cats are perfect for my friends who work long hours as they don’t have to rush home from the office to walk their cats,” says Nurse Nancy. “But, after a stressful work day, spending time with a . . . lap cat is a great way to relax.

“Cats have been shown to lower blood pressure, lift people’s spirits who are dealing with long-term illnesses, and they’re a lot of fun to have around the house.”

Nurse Nancy, a character created to publicize the idea of spaying and neutering cats, adds that adopting a cat can save a life. Local shelters were swamped this summer with an overabundance of homeless felines.

“In Colorado we euthanize more than 24,000 cats annually which is almost double the number of dogs,” she said And not missing a chance to make a pitch, she pointed out that you can find a list of low-ost spay/neuter clinics along the Front Range at www.nursenancypresents.com.

Linda Chassman, a Denver psychotherapist who uses her cat in her practice, speaks about the benefits of cats from both a personal and professional point of view.

“I have had cats most of my life,” Chassman said. “At age 46 I became a mother — so for most of my adult life before my human child my cats have also been my kids.

“Two of my cats have also played an important role in my professional life — Norman was my first therapy cat, and now that he is retired Mazey is now a working girl.

“I have worked with abused and neglected children for most of my career as a psychotherapist. Norman loved to come to work with me at the group home and together we helped kids learn about safe boundaries, caring for others, empathy, social interaction and safe touch, to name a few.”

Chassman had a private practice in her home and her clients first discovered Norman’s healing potential when he would come and sit with them in the waiting area.

“Mazey, not being a dog, will not tolerate rough touch, or loud talking (or arguing). She will walk (or run!) to her bed, giving us the ability to talk about how their behavior affects each other, and their children,” Chassman said.

Neil Paulson, another retired Denver journalist who spent four nerve-wracking decades meeting deadlines, also touts the calming effect of felines.

“Cats are furry and warm and from time to time deliver a gentle touch of their nose to your face, which I take to be an affectionate sign,” Paulson said, “They greet me at the door, even when a meal is not due, and take quiet joy in a lap.

“And they purr.”

Alas, my Lab only gurgles when he tries that.

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ANIMAL TRACKS- The second best city to find a pet sitter in the United States is Colorado Springs, according to a recent study conducted by Sittercity.com, a website for connecting families with local, quality pet sitters and dog walkers. The list was compiled using a number of criteria, including actual job postings to the site, the hourly cost of a walker and the number of dog walkers and petsitters available in each market. The rest of the top 10 : 1) Milwaukee, 3) Tucson, 4) Cincinnati, 5) Cleveland, 6) Tampa, 7) Naperville, Ill., 8) Portland, Ore., 9) Nashville, 10) Jacksonville . . .

Speaking of cats, the locally based Morris Animal Foundation, a world leader in supporting research to prevent, treat and cure disease in companion animals, horses and wildlife, will manage about 300 animal health studies in 2011, with support for those studies totaling $17 million over the next three years. During this time, more than $3.5 million will go toward feline health research. Morris also announced $6 million in funding for canine health studies . . .

The Larimer Humane Society has announced a new partnership with PetFirst Healthcare to offer pet health insurance to new owners of cats and dogs adopted through the shelter. Founded by the former CEO of the Kentucky Humane Society, PetFirst Healthcare offers an insurance plan with shelters and rescue groups in mind. Individuals that adopt a cat or dog from Larimer Humane Society will be eligible to sign up for PetFirst Healthcare’s Adoption Insurance Program, which provides coverage for unexpected accidents and illness. The adoption insurance is $5 for the first month and then automatically renews for $14.95 per month thereafter . . .

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PET CALENDAR

Holiday pet portraits will be taken at the Longmont Humane Society on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 20 and 21. Professional photographers led by Marsha Steckling of Life Exposed Photography will be taking the portraits. Children and families welcome with or without pets. Hours will be 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the society’s dog-training center, 9595 Nelson Rd. The price of $20 includes photo session, digital CD copy of all photos taken and permission for personal use.

What a great article! I think that Georgia is a gorgeous, cat, by the way!!! I have never seen one like that before! I have heard that cats lower blood pressure, and is very healing, especially, with the elderly!! Great validation reading this from the Denver Post!! Thanks!! D. O’Hara

Debbie O’Hara

What a great article! I think that Georgia is a gorgeous, cat, by the way!!! I have never seen one like that before! I have heard that cats lower blood pressure, and is very healing, especially, with the elderly!! Great validation reading this from the Denver Post!! Thanks!! D. O’Hara

Betsy Andrews

Beautiful cat! With a face like that, what’s not to love…cats are purrfect for those who are on the go, much less work. I have two little dogs that I love, but, they can be a handful at times, always wanting attention.

Betsy Andrews

Beautiful cat! With a face like that, what’s not to love…cats are purrfect for those who are on the go, much less work. I have two little dogs that I love, but, they can be a handful at times, always wanting attention.

Betsy

Beautiful cat, she has so much character in her face. I can see where having a cat would be great for those who are on the go. I have two little dogs I love, but they can be a handful, requiring lots more attention. Got cats? Betsy Sarao

Betsy

Beautiful cat, she has so much character in her face. I can see where having a cat would be great for those who are on the go. I have two little dogs I love, but they can be a handful, requiring lots more attention. Got cats? Betsy Sarao

Darcybeard

In the words of Mark Twain, “If man could be crossed with a cat, it would improve man but deteriorate the cat”. Cats are the best!

Darcybeard

In the words of Mark Twain, “If man could be crossed with a cat, it would improve man but deteriorate the cat”. Cats are the best!

Dave

All my life I had been a dog person. In fact, I either ignored or despised the cats we had. Then Ollie came into my life thanks to my grandkids who found him at a pet store. He is some kind of Russian Blue/Angora mix. He is more doglike than I ever seen a cat. He started out to be an indoor cat, but he seemed frustrated. With coyotes around and a cat’s tendency to kill birds, get on neighbors porches, in their garbage and get in fights, I didn’t want to just let him out. So one day I bought a leash to see if I could take him for a walk. To my surprise he seemed not to mind, so we go for walks once or twice a day. I am able to control his movements somewhat, but not a good as a dog. I am amazed at the places we go from his usual “hunting places” where he thinks mice reside to streams, gullies, trails, etc. He does not seem to fear dogs but rather usually goes directly to them and gets nose to nose. However, he refuses to participate in the other sniffing behaviors that dogs do. I have to say that all the dogs in our neighborhood (and there are hundreds of them) are very well behaved and do not act aggressively toward Ollie. In fact, he has two really good dog friends that he always greets enthusiatically, a little Yorkshire Terrier that climbs all over him and a greyhound that runs circles around him. He also chases cat toys when I throw them but does not retrieve them unless you call rolling down the stairs with the toy in his mouth, retrieving. The greatest thing is that only once have I had to pick up any poop. On a walk we came upon a sand volleyball court and halfway across it must have felt too much like home. The only bothersome thing he does on our walks is that he climbs trees and the leash can get entangled in limbs. But he hasn’t hung himself yet.My leash has sort of bungie cord and that helps. When I come home he runs to meet me at the door and is very affectionate around the house with us and anyone who visits. He seems to understand the word, “shoo” and will go lie down somewhere, if we think he is being a pest. I know there are other cats like Ollie. In fact there is another man who walks his cat in our townhouse complex without a leash.

Dave

All my life I had been a dog person. In fact, I either ignored or despised the cats we had. Then Ollie came into my life thanks to my grandkids who found him at a pet store. He is some kind of Russian Blue/Angora mix. He is more doglike than I ever seen a cat. He started out to be an indoor cat, but he seemed frustrated. With coyotes around and a cat’s tendency to kill birds, get on neighbors porches, in their garbage and get in fights, I didn’t want to just let him out. So one day I bought a leash to see if I could take him for a walk. To my surprise he seemed not to mind, so we go for walks once or twice a day. I am able to control his movements somewhat, but not a good as a dog. I am amazed at the places we go from his usual “hunting places” where he thinks mice reside to streams, gullies, trails, etc. He does not seem to fear dogs but rather usually goes directly to them and gets nose to nose. However, he refuses to participate in the other sniffing behaviors that dogs do. I have to say that all the dogs in our neighborhood (and there are hundreds of them) are very well behaved and do not act aggressively toward Ollie. In fact, he has two really good dog friends that he always greets enthusiatically, a little Yorkshire Terrier that climbs all over him and a greyhound that runs circles around him. He also chases cat toys when I throw them but does not retrieve them unless you call rolling down the stairs with the toy in his mouth, retrieving. The greatest thing is that only once have I had to pick up any poop. On a walk we came upon a sand volleyball court and halfway across it must have felt too much like home. The only bothersome thing he does on our walks is that he climbs trees and the leash can get entangled in limbs. But he hasn’t hung himself yet.My leash has sort of bungie cord and that helps. When I come home he runs to meet me at the door and is very affectionate around the house with us and anyone who visits. He seems to understand the word, “shoo” and will go lie down somewhere, if we think he is being a pest. I know there are other cats like Ollie. In fact there is another man who walks his cat in our townhouse complex without a leash.

Fetch takes a topical look at a variety of issues affecting pets, including the latest research results.. It seeks to provide useful information for Colorado pet owners and to spotlight the work of Colorado animal welfare groups.